Parking meter



July 7, 1942. H. L. LONG PARKING METER Filed May 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR liar/y L B d/;,ATToRNEYs H. L. LONG 2,288,813

PARKING METER Filed May a, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR garrql. Z0115 ATTORNEYS July 7, 1942. I H. L. LONG PARKING METER Filed May 8. 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIHIIHI INVENTOR Auk 14W; MM Ag ATTORNEYS July 1, 1942. H. L. LON ,8

PARK ING METER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T IR 5 :I 1 E I v II I s 1/ I W 5 ll i'liim i 1 p:

INVENTOR M 4i I gem/ y Patented July 1, 1942 PARKING METER Harry Lewis Long, Oklahoma City, Okla, anignor; by meme assignments, to Miller Meters, Incorpoir-ated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Application May 8, 1937, No. 141,491

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 161- 15) This invention relates to timing devices, such as parking meters or the like, and particularly to timing devices, the operation of which is initiated or controlled by inserting a coin or check. The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No.'58,385, filed January 9, 1936, now abandoned.

Parking meters and similar constructions as heretofore made have embodied timing elements in the form of spring or electrically driven clockwork mechanism or mechanism driven by means of weights and escapements for indicating the lapse of time or for actuating signals or the like upon the expiration of a predetermined period. Since parking meters are ordinarily located in exposed positions and subjected to varying atmospheric conditions, the'timing elements employed 'even though protected by a housing, are to a more or less extent subject to the action of rain, humidity and the fumes and smoke of cities, as well as wide ranges of temperature. These conditions tend to promote rusting and deterioration of the timing elements rendering them unreliable in operation so that frequent repair or replacement of the elements is necessary.

The timing device of the present invention includes as a novel feature of the construction a timing element located in a sealed chamber which excludes moisture andmay be evacuated if desired, whereby the effects of, rain, floods, gas fumes and extreme heat or cold do not detrimentally aifect the accuracy of the timing operation. The invention also includes, in combination with such a timing element, mechanism for controlling the operation of the timing element adapted to be reset at any time to initiate a new timing operation of predetermined duration. The invention also includes means for deterring the use of an unexpired parking periodbyone not paying for or otherwise complying with the rules governing the exercise of the parking privilege. Among other novel features of construction more fully hereinafter described and claimed, the invention includes novel actuating means whereby shock to the timing element and related partsinfluence of gravity. Certain features of this timing element are believed to be broadly new and are so claimed. It will be understood, how'- ever, that the invention in its broader aspects is not confined to the particular type of timing element shown; and that various equivalents may be employed in the novel combination disclosed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel type of timing device, such as a parking meter, which is operable consistently and in a reliable manner under all conditions of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parking meter with a novel type of timing means protected from the action of moisture, fumes and external influences which might injure or affect the operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide aparking meter with timing means enclosed within a sealed chamber and adapted to be reset at any time to initiate a new timing operation of predetermined duration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a parking meter with means for preventingshock to the elements thereof in resetting, whereby consistent and uniform operation is assured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parking meter which deters the use of an unexpired parking period by those failing to pay for the privilege.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will appear from the following description thereof, in which reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawings illustrating typical embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the meter;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the meter;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view on a smaller scale;

' Figure is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure, 5 is a part sectional view and part side elevation, the section being taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure l, and the elevation showing the timing element and associated parts;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view ofthe tuning element and associated parts as viewed from the right hand side of the device as shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation and showing the timing element with certain of associated parts removed as viewed from the side.opposite to that shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Figure Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail sectional view ing broken away.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 12, inclusive, the parking meter is supported by a standard or post 2 on the upper end of which is located a housing 4. The housing may be of any desired shape or construction but as shown is pivotally secured at 6 to a support 8 fixedly attached to the upper end of standard 2 by suitable means, such as a screw I0. The head of the screw is normally concealed I by an apron l2 projecting downward from the pivoted housing 4 but is accessible when the housing is tilted about the pivot 6.

A lock I4 is carried by the housing and is provided with a bolt I6 or the like which normally projects below a keeper l8 on the support 8, as shown in Figure 8, to prevent tilting of the housing. On rotation of the bolt to the dotted modified a half-revolution to the dotted line position of Figures 6 and 7. During this movement material which has drained through the draining opening and collected in the receiving chamber 32 of the container passes rapidly downward over the sloping lower surface of the wall 28 and through the large passage 34 into the lowered upper portion 36 of the container. Upon rotation of the chamber from the dotted line to the full line position of Figures 6 and '7 in a clockwise direction, the material flows downward over the surface 44 of the container and into the open upper end of the draining chamber 29. In this way a new timing operation is initiated. Thereafter material drains slowly through the draining opening 30 until the expiration of the timing operation, when all of the material will have drained from the chamber 23 into the receiving chamber 32, or until the timing element is again shifted to a reversed position to initiate a new timing operation.

Any suitable means may be employed for actuating the timing element to initiate a timing operation. The movement or rotation of the container to an inverted position in which the receiving chamber 32 is raised above the portion 36 of the container may advantageously be effected manually, whereas the reverse movement line position of Figure 8 the housing may be tilted to expose screw l0 and to permit access to a coin receiving receptacle l9 located in the support 8 and projecting downward into the standard 2.

Within the housing 4 is located a suitable timing element which as illustrated is in the form of a sealed chamber 20 containing fiowable material 22, such as sand or a liquid, for measurin the time expired after initiation of a timing operation. A portion of the timing element designed to hold the time measuring material is located during a timing operation adjacent a sight opening 24 in the housing and graduations 26 may be provided on the element or in the sight opening to indicate the timewhich has elapsed since the starting of, a timing operation.

When used as a parking meter the timing element should be capable of being actuated at will to initiate a new timing operation .of predetermined duration without waiting for the termination of a previous timing operation. In the construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 11 the timing element is shown to embody a hermetically sealed container 20 formed of glass or other transparent material and having a dividing wall 28 therein defining a. draining chamber 29 from which the material 22 drains through 'a small opening 30 at a predetermined rate. Below the draining chamber there is a receiving chamber 32 communicating through a large passage 34 for restoring the flowable material to the chamber 29 may be effected mechanically or otherwise and in a controlled manner so that material will not be thrown out of the draining chamber and the mechanism will not be subjected to shock due to too vigorous manipulation of the device. The means provided for controlling such return movement of the timing element may take various forms, but as shown, spring means energized by manual operation of the device in inverting the container are employed and a dashpot or other dampening means is provided for cushioning the action of the spring means. The spring 48 employed for this purpose is shown in Figure 6 as coiled about shaft 38 to which the gear 48 is secured. One end of the spring is secured to the arm 52 and the other end bears against the frame 50 by which the shaft is supported. The arm 52 fixed'to the end of a shaft 38 is connected by link 54 to a piston movable in the pivoted cylinder 56 forming a dashpot to control the return movement of the container 20 under the action of spring 48.

The means illustrated in Figures 4 to '7 for moving the timing element to an inverted position to terminate atiming operation are manually operable and include the gear 40 secured to shaft 38 on which the timing element is mounted and the gear segment 42 with which the gear between the adjacent side members 5la and 5th of the frame 50. Spacing pieces 53, 55 and 51 are held between the members 5Ia and 5Ib and also with the upper portion 36' of thecontainer and serve to define marginal limits of the coin passage as shown more particularly in Figure 7. A coin 66 inserted in the slot in passing downward through the passage 62 comes to rest in engagement with the arm 60 of gear segment 42.

An operating arm 68 is also mounted on the shaft 58 and is provided with a pin 10 projecting through a slot 12 in the frame 50 and into the shaft 58 and located on the exterior of the housing so as to be manipulated by the user.

In operating the mechanism described, the user inserts a coin 66 in the slot 64 so that it passes downwardly through the passage 62 and comes to rest in engagement with the arm 60 on gear segment 42. Thereafter on rotation of the handle 16 the arm 68 is rotated moving the pin downward into engagement with the coin 66. Further rotation of the handle moves the coin 66 and the arm 60 of the gear segment 42 downward so that the gear 40 is rotated and the shaft 38 and the timing element 20 are moved from the full line position of Figure 7 to the dotted line position shown therein. The handle 16 can be rotated no further, due to the engagement of the pin 10 with the end of the slot 12 so that the operator naturally releases the handle, whereupon the spring 14 returns the arm 68, the shaft 58 and erally ring shape, with a restricted portion I02 the handle I6 to their normal positions in which the pin 10 engages the upper end of the slot 12, as shown in Figure 4. Movement of the pin I0 away from the coin 66 also permits the coin to pass downward into engagement with a spring member 18 which serves to hold the coin against a stud 80 and in position to be observed through a sight opening 82 in the housing.

On return movement of pin I0 and displacement of coin 66 the gear segment 42 is released and the timing element is reversed relatively slowly by means of the spring 48 under control of the dashpot 56, preventing shock on the mechanism and insuring the proper flow of material from the lowered upper portion 36 of the chamber into the draining chamber 29 to initiate a new timing operation of predetermined duration. The sand or other material 22 then drains from the chamber 29 and its level therein is observable through the sight opening 24 to indicate the extent of time that has elapsed in the timing operation. The sand continues to drain from the draining chamber until the timing operation is completed and all of the sand has passed into the receiving chamber or until such prior time as the device is operated again by the insertion of another coin. Upon insertion of a new coin the coin previously held adjacent the opening 82 by the spring I8 and stud 80 is displaced by the new coin and passes through a chute 84 into the coin receptacle I9. Thus, the coin used to actuate the device is held in an exposed position and acts as a deterrent to the use of slugs or improper operating means for the device.

The parking meter described above and shown in Figures 1 to 12 of the drawings is characterized by the fact that it requires no attention, except to remove the accumulated coins or checks, and is entirely self-contained; that is, the provision of external means, such as electrical conduits in the curbing or adjacent structure is not required for the operation of the device, and it may be removed from one location to another without difliculty and as occasion demands. Furthermore the device as described is permanently operable in that it needs no winding or adjustment and no batteries or other elements need be replaced or renewed to insure consistent and satisfactory operation. Morethrough which the material I04, such as sand, liquid or the like may flow at a predetermined rate. The restricted portion preferably presents a relatively long tapered passage which during a timing operation is located adjacent a sight opening I00 in the housing I08. Thus only a relatively small portion of the timing element is observable through the opening, and it is im-.

possible to determine the amount of unexpired time remaining from a previous timing operation. Persons wishing to occupy a parking area before the expiration of a previous parking period, therefore, cannot determine how much of the previous parking period remains unexpired and will not drive about in an attempt to select a parking area which has been vacated while a substantial part of the allowed parking period remains.

Preferably the sight opening is formed to extend about three sides of the housing so that the presence .or absence of the timing material in the restricted portion of the element may be readably observed by all passing on the sidewalks or adjacent the device and failure of an operator to actuate the meter and insert the prescribed coin or other check or token can be readily observed.

The timing element is supported in the housing by clamping members II 0, secured to a shaft '2 and is adapted to be rotated through one complete revolution to initiate a new timing operation. On rotation of the timing element in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 13, it will be apparent that the upper draining portion 4 of the chamber'will first be inverted and then righted while the sand or other material contained in the receiving portion H6 of the chamber will remain in the lowermost portion of the chamber as it is rotated and until picked up by the holding portion and elevated above the sight opening to an operating position. Thus a timing operation may be terminated and a new operation of predetermined duration may be initiated at any time by simply rotating the chamber I00 through one complete rotation in a counterclockwise duration.

The means employed for rotating the timing element to initiate a new timing operation may be of any suitable type. That shown in Figures 13 and 14 is wholly automatic, requiring no manual operation other than the insertion of a coin. This insures uniformity of operation and prolongs the life of the mechanism by avoiding the shocks and irregularities in movement that may occur with manually operated devices. The construction shown includes a pulley H8 secured to a shaft I20 and driven'by suitable means such timing element is rotated. The driving means for actuating the shaft lit and the timing de= vice may be energized periodically, by inserting a suitable crank or key through an opening in the housing and into engagement with a key slot in shaft its for raising a weight or winding a spring or other means provided for actuating the driving means.

The operating means may advantageously be released automatically on insertion of a coin and without further manipulation by the operator. For this purpose the housing we is provided with a coin receiving opening 532 communicating with a coin passage The opening i532 through which the coin is is covered by a downwardly extending hood 535 or is downwardly directed to prevent the entrance of rain, dirt, or moisture into the coin inserted preferably opening. A bell crank i133 is pivoted at Md 4 within the housing and is provided with anactuating arm M2, the end M l of which extends into the coin passage adjacent the coin opening I32. The opposite arm I46 of the bell crank constitutes a latching member that extends upward from the pivot I40 and into engagement with a positioning member I48 on shaft H2. The positioning member isformed with a projection I50 located to hold the timing element in position with the restricted portion.

I02 thereof adjacent the sight opening I06.

The actuating arm I42 of the bell crank is connected by a link,I52 to a coin retaining member I54 pivoted at I56. A spring I58 urges the member I54 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 13 and acts through link I52 to urge the end I44 of \the actuating arm of the bell crank into the coin passage I34 and to urge the latching arm I46 of the bell crank against the positioning member I48 so that it will be, en-" gaged by the projection I50. The lower end I60 of the retaining member I54 is urged outward by the action of spring I58 and serves to hold the coin used in operating the device in position adjacent a sight opening I62 so that the use of a slug or improper operating member may be readily observed.

In the operation of the mechanism described hit aaeaeis and is held in position adjacent the coin sight 4 raised, causing the link E52 to pull upward on the rear of the coin retaining member against the action of the spring (#58 so that the end 660 of the coin retaining member is moved to the left as seen in Figure 13, releasing the previous coin so that it may pass downward into a coin re oeptacle ltd. When the newly inserted coin passes the end its of arm let, the spring E50 returns the lower end N0 of the coin retaining member to its coin retaining position to hold the new coin adjacent the sight opening 582.

The coin receptacle employed preferably is in the form of a'sealed container having a slot for receiving the coins, or it may be otherwise constructed to prevent unauthorized removal of coins therefrom. The shaft II2 by which the timing element is rotated also may be provided with an operation counter of an irreversibletype for indicating the number of operations of the the insertion of a coin into the opening I32 serves to raise the end I44 of the actuating arm I42 and in so doing serves to retract the latching arm I46 from engagement with the projection I on the positioning member I48. The timing element is thus released and is rotated by operation of the driving means for rotating shaft i20, chain I28 and shaft I I2, to which the timing element is secured. The movement of the actuating coin past the end I44 of the actuating arm permits the latching member to again move into engagement with the positioning member under the action of spring I58, so that the timing element is allowed to make only one comlete rotation, at the end of which the projection I50 engages the end of thelatch arm I46 and the restricted portion I02 of the timing element is restored to its position adjacent the sight opening I00.

The material which has previously been drained from the upper portion of the chamber I00 *through the restricted portion thereof is thus returned to the upper portion of the chamber I00, so as to again drain through the restricted portion in a new timing operation.

After the coin used in actuating the device has passed the downwardly turnedend I44 of the device so as to act as a check on the collector and to determine the value of ,maintaining a parking meter in a particular location. Such a counter is'shown at I66 in Fig. 14.

In order to safeguard the mechanism against accidental or mischievous operation that might cause the latch arm I46 to be held away from the projection I50, onthe positioning member I48 so as to allow the driving means for the timing element to operate continuously or until run down, a supplemental latch member I68 is pivotally mounted on the frame I10 and is movable into position to engage projection I50. A spring I12 is connected between the latch arm I46 and the supplemental latch member and urges the member I68 toward the positioning member I48. However, a link I14, carried by the latch arm, normally serves to hold the supplemental latch member away from the positioning member I48 so that during normal operation of the device in which the latch arm I46 is urged against the positioning member by the spring I58, the supplemental latch member is held away from .the positioning member and does not engage the projection I50. 1

With this construction if an object is inserted into the coin slot to engage the end I44 of the actuating arm I42 and is he1d in position to prevent the latch arm I46 from engaging the projection I50, the supplemental latch member I68 will then be allowed by the link I14 toswing to the left, as seen in Fig, 13, and will be urged against the positioning member I48 by the spring II2 so that it will engage the projection I50 and prevent rotation of the timing element through more than one-half of a complete revolution. Thereafter when the latch arm I40 is permitted to return into engagement with the positioning member I48 by removal of the object used to manipulate the mechanism, the link PM will move to the right with the latch arm 9% under the action of spring I50 and will swing the supplemental latch member out of engagement with the projection I50 and permit the timing element to continue its rotation until restored to its timing position in which the projection 55d engages the latch arm i 35.

The timing operation which follows such improper manipulation or the device will take place in a normal manner, but th coin, which previously was retained in the sight opening I62, will have been released by the raising of the actuating arm 2 so that no coin will be present in the sight opening and it will be apparent that the timing operation has been improperly initiated.

Since the latch arm I46 and coin-actuating arm I42 are actuated by the operator on insertion of a coin it is desirable that they be easily movable. In some cases their movement may be greater than that required to move the supplemental latch member lil into position to engage the projection I50 and therefore the link I14 is provided with a-slot I16 for receiving a pin I'll on the supplemental latch member, so that movement of the latch arm I on insertion of a coin into the device will not be limited by the supplemental latch member but may take place easily against the action of the light spring I12.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, like that illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, inclusive, is unafiected by theaction of moisture, fumes or climatic conditions so that consistent and reliable operation thereof is assured. It will be apparent however that the timing means may take other forms and other types of operating and actuating mechanism than those described herein and illustrated in the drawings may be used in the practice of the invention. It should, therefore,-be understood that the above description and showing is intended to be illustrative of typical embodiments thereof and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.-

I claim: 1. In a parking meter, a timing device comprising a draining chamber, a receiving chamber and a return by-pass, said draining chamber being adapted to contain a flowable material and to permit it to drain therefrom into said receiving chamber at a predetermined rate, mechanism for shifting the position of said timing device to quickly return fiowable material present in said receiving chamber through said by-pass to said retarding the speed or return of said device to said position to prevent shock to said timing device.

2. In a parking meter, a sealed chamber having gravity actuated timing means therein, means including a power storage device for moving said chamber to raise said gravity actuated means and initiate a timing operation, means operable at will to effect a storage of energy in said power storage means and permit said power storage means to return said gravity actuated means to time operating position, and means including a dashpot for retarding the rate of movement of said chamber as said chamber approaches said time operating position.

3. In a parking meter having a casing with a sight opening therein, a timer of the sand glass type having normally upper and lower chambers located in said casing and observable through said opening, saidtimer being provided with a medium having free flowing characteristics and flowable at a predetermined rate from said upper chamber to said lower chamber to eifect a timing operation of a predetermined duration, said timer having a chamber thereof graduated to indicate lapse of time according to flow or said medium, means including a spring operable normally to hold said timer substantially stationary in timing position for view through said sight opening,

means operable at will for moving said timer against the action of the spring to restore said medium to said upper chamber to initiate a timing operation of predetermined duration, and said spring being operable when the timer is released to effect the return of said timer to timing position.

4. In a parking meter, a chamber having grav ity actuated timing means therein, a shaft for revolvably supporting said chamber, a stop, control means including a springoperatively associated with said shaft for'normally maintaining draining chamber to permit initiation of a new time measuring position, and dashpot means forsaid chamber in timing position adjacent said stop, reset means operable at will to move said chamber against the action of said spring to shift the position of said gravity actuated timing means in said chamber preparatory to initiation of a new timing. operation of predetermined duration, and said spring being so arranged that upon release of said reset means it will operate to return said chamber to position adjacent said stop to initiate a timing operation.

HARRY LEWIS LONG. 

